Actuating mechanism for reciprocating carriages



Get. 14, 1952 R. E. CROSSLEY 2,613,541

ACTUATING MECHANISM FOR RECIPROCATING CARRIAGES Filed Aug. 2, 1950 2SHEETS-SHEET 1 INVENTOR. 05m) .E 1;" ras'iiey Oct. 14, 1952 R. E.CROSSLEY ACTUATING MECHANISM FOR RECIPROCATING CARRIAGES 2 SHEETS-SHEET2 Filed Aug. 2, 1950 INVENTOR. 05m E Crow/6y BY ATTORNEYS of the framehas a similar aperture I3.

Patented Oct. 14, 1952 ACTUATING MECHANISM FOR RECIPRO- CATING CARRIAGESRoyal E. Crosslcy, Fayetteville, N. Y., assignor to Grouse-HindsCompany, Syracuse, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application August2, 1950, Serial No. 177,221

Claims. 1

This invention relates to actuating mechanism for reciprocatingcarriages. While the invention is applicabl to the reciprocation ofcarriages in machines and apparatus of various types, it is here shownin connection with shifting the lamp or light source in a lighting unit.In lightingunits of certain construction, the direction of the outputbeam may be varied by moving the light source Within the unit. Suchunits are usedffor example, in airport lighting systems, and it isdesirable to "shift the light sources of a number of lighting unitssimultaneously and to the same extent. At the present time, themechanism for so moving the light sources consists of a motor drivenscrew, the motor being of the reversible type and functioning to movethe lamp receptacle back and forth along the axis of the screw.

In order to assure uniform positioning of the various light sources, orlamps, in moving the same from any given position, the motor isenergized and operated until the lamp receptacle, or the carriage onwhich it is mounted, is threaded along the screw to the end thereof, atwhich time the motor is stalled, and this means that the motors in allthe units are stalled until the light source in the last unit hasreached the end of its travel.

This invention has as an object an actuating mechanism of the typereferred towhich embodies a structure which functions torelieve thecarriage propelling screw from any restraint when the carriage has movedto either end of its travel by the screw-leaving the motor free torotate under no load.

The invention consists in the novel features and in the combinations andconstructions here inafter set forth and claimed.

Indescribing this invention, reference is had to the accompanyingdrawings in which like characters designate corresponding parts in allthe views. 1 I

Figure 1 is a plan view of a device embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a view taken on line 2-2, Figure 1. Figure 3 is a view takenon line 3-3, Figure 1. Figure 4 is a view taken on line 44, Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a view corresponding to the lower portion of Figure 2,showing the latch stop in nut releasing position.

' Figure 6 is a View taken on line 6'6, Figure 3.

1 The frame In is a U-shaped plate member having extensions H on the legportions thereof provided with apertures l2, and the opposite end TheseLil apertures receive screws by which the device is mounted in alighting unit, such as a search-' light. The frame I0 is formed withupwardly extending projections 14, there being a pair of theseprojections at each end of the frame and they are apertured to receiverods or guideways l5. Like ends of the rods are threaded into theprojections M at the open end of the frame and are secured in place byjam nuts 16 which also serve to mount a disk H to which the legs of adriving motor l8 are secured by means of screws [9.

The lamp receptacle 20 is mounted on a carriage 2| formed on one sidewith a pair of upwardly extending bifurcated projections 22, and with asimilar projection 23 on the opposite side. Rollers 25 are rotatablymounted in the projec tions 22, 23, and are positioned on the guide rodsI5, whereby the carriage 2! is movable lengthwise of the frame plateIll. The lamp receptacle 20 is mounted on an angle bracket 28 by screws29. The other leg of the bracket is formed with a square recess toreceive a post 30 rectangular in cross section, and the bracket .isadjustably clamped to the post by a cap 3!, asby screws 32. The lowerend of the post 30 is positioned in an aperture formed in the carriageplate 2| and-is fixed thereto as by set screw 33. l I

The output shaft 36 of the motor I8 has secured thereto a screw 38extendin lengthwise of the frame between the side legs thereof. A nutMlismounted on the screw 38 in threaded engagement therewith and isoperatively connected to the carriage by an H-shaped member having apair 4| of its leg portions straddling the receptacle mounting post30and being secured to the carriage 2!, as by screws 42. The legportions 43 of this member are formed with depending projections 45positioned between the side legs of the frame I 0 and on opposite sidesof the nut 40. The legs 4| of the H member are provided with elongatedapertures 41 to permit adjustment of the member lengthwise of thecarriage. The nut 40 is formed with a circumferential groove 49 and thedepending portions 46 carry pins 50 extending into the groove 49.Accordingly, when the nut 40 is moved axially of the screw 38, thecarriage is similarly moved on the guide rods [5.

The frame I0 is formed with a bridge portion 52 extending transverselybelow the screw 38 and is formed with a threaded aperture extendingparallel to the screw into which screws 53 are threaded and on which arejournalled latch members 54, 55. The bridge member 52 is formed with aridge 56 extending below the screw 38 and parallel therewith. The nut 49is provided with a pin 51 arranged to engage the ridge 55 upon rotationof the nut when the nut, or the pin 51, is positioned over the ridge. Inother words, the ridge 56 is cooperable with the pin 51 to preventrotation of the nut on the screw.

The latch members 54, 55, are also :formed with projections 59normally'positioned in registration with the ridge 56 and beingmaintained in that position by a projection 60 extending parallel to thescrews 53 toward the bridge 52 and engaging the under side thereof. Theprojections 60 are moved into engagement with the bridge by the longerand heavier arm portion SI of the members 54, 55. The members 54 and 55are mounted in reverse relationthat is, the longer portions 6| on themember 54 extending in the opposite direction to the portion 6| of thelatch member 55, see Figure 2.

If power is supplied to the motor I8 to rotate the screw in a clockwisedirection Figure 2, the nut will be threaded along the screw 38 to theleft Figure 3, the pin 51 riding along the ridge v55 on bridge portion52. When the pin 51 passes off from the ridge 56, it will engage theridge 59 onthe latch member 55. When the pin engages theridge 59, thelatch member 55 will be moved about its.screw.53 in a clockwisedirection, whereby the ridge 59 will be moved out of engagement with thepin 51, .permitting the nut to rotate with "screw 38, whereupon movementof the carriage 2| to the right, Figure 3, ceases. The motor cancontinue to rotate the screw 38 in'the counter-clockwise directionFigure 2, and the nut will continue to rotate as each time the pin 5!engages ridge 59 on the latch member 55, the ridge 59 thereof will moveabout the axis of screw 53 out of engagement with the pin. However, ifthe motor is reversed and the screw operated in a clockwise direction,Figure 2, the first time the pin 51 engages the ridge 59 of the latchmember 55, the latch member will stop movement of the pin and rotationof the nut, and the nut will thereupon be threaded along the screwtoward the motor I8, with the pin passing from the ridge 59 onto theridge 56 and the nut and carriage will continue to travel towards themotor until the power is turned off from the motor, or until the pin 51engages the ridge 59 of the latch member 54, whereupon that latch memberwill be moved in a counter-clockwise direc- "tion about its mountingscrew 53 to release the pm, this taking place each revolution of the nut:as previously explained.

Accordingly, regardless of the length of time v current is supplied tothe motor l8, the carriage '21 carrying the lamp receptacle will bemoved only to some predetermined point in respect to the reflectors ofthe units. On a long runway of several thousand feet employing amultiplicity .of lighting units, the lamp receptacles will not all reachthis predetermined position simultaneously, 'this due to voltage drop inthe line .:supplying the motors, the variation in frictional resistanceof the units, etc. However, the opera- --tor can leave the power supplyon the motors until he is certain that the lamp receptacles of all the.units have reached the selected position. The fact that some of theunits will reach this'position ahead of others is of no moment becausethe :nuts 40 on those units simply idle, or rotate with the screw,without placing any undue burden-upon the associated motor I8.

After the lamp receptacles of all the units have :reached thispredetermined position, the operaitorcan then reverse the line currentto the motors and the lamp receptacles will all move forwardly in unisonto whatever position the operator desires.

What I claim is:

l. Actuating mechanism for a reciprocating carriage comprising a frame,a carriage actuating screw journalled in the frame and extendingparallel to the movement of the carriage, a nut threaded on said screw,said carriage having means cooperable with the nut to permit rotationthereof and to restrain axial movement of the nut relative to thecarriage, a fixed stop member'arranged in juxtaposition to the screw andextending inparallel spaced relation thereto and being cooper-able torestrain rotation of the nut during movement thereof axially along thescrew, latch members mounted at the ends of said stop and cooperable topermit rotation of the nut in one direction only, and a reversible motoroperatively connected to said screw to effect rotation of the same tocause reciprocation of the nut and carriage lengthwise of the stopmember. I

2. Actuating mechanism for .a reciprocating carriage comprising a frame,a carriage actuating screw journalled in the frame and extend ingparallel to the movementof the carriage, a reversible motor operativelyconnected to one end of the screw, a nut threaded on the-screw, saidcarriage and nut having means cooperable to permit rotation of-thenutand to restrain axial movement of the nut relative to the carriage, anelongated stop member carried by the frame and extending inparallelspaced relation to the screw, said nut being'provided with a projectionmovable into engagement'with said stop member and being slidabletherealong to restrain rotation of the nut during axial movement thereofalong'the screw, a latch member mounted .at each end of said stopmember, each of said latches being formed with a portion normallypositioned to constitute a continuation of said stop member, the latchatone end of said stopmember being cooperable with said projection topermit rotation of said nut in one direction only-and to restrainrotation of the nut in the opposite direction, the latch member at theopposite end of said stop being operable in reverse order.

3. Actuating mechanism for a reciprocating carriagecomprising a frame, acarriage actuating screw journalled in the frame in parallel relation tothe movement of the carriage and restrained from axial movement, areversible motor operatively connected to said screw, anut'threaded onthe screw, said carriage having means cooperable with the nut to permitrotation thereof but restrain axial movement of the nut relative to thecarriage, a fixed stop member extending in parallel spaced relation tothe screw and being operable to restrain rotation of said nut .uponrotation of the screw in both directions, and nut restraining membersarranged at each end of said fixed stop member, one of said restrainingmembers being operable to restrain :rotation of the nut in one directionand the other 'member to restrain rotation of the nut in the oppositedirection.

4. Mechanism for actuating a reciprocating carriage comprising a frame,'acarriage actuating screw journalled in the frame, a nut threaded onthe screw and being operatively connected to said carriage and rotatablerelatively thereto, a stop member extending .in parallel spaced relationto the screw and cooperable to restrain rotation of said nut about theaxis of the screw,

whereby upon rotation of said screw, said nut and carriage are movedaxially of the screw, a latch member pivotally mounted at each end ofsaid stop member and having a projection, said latch member beingnormally positioned with their respective projections forming acontinuation of said fixed stop member and being movable about theirpivots to permit rotation of said nut by the screw as the nut isadvanced from the fixed stop member to said latch.

5. Actuating mechanism for a reciprocating carriage comprising a frame,a carriage actuating screw journalled on the frame, a nut threaded onsaid screw and being operatively connected to the carriage for rotationrelative thereto, a fixed stop member extending in parallel spacedrelation to said screw and being cooperable with said nut to restrainrotation thereof upon rotation of said screw in both directions, amovable stop at each end of said fixed stop, one of said REFERENCESCITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,257,128 Sheck Feb. 19, 19181,439,304 Fraser Dec. 19, 1922 1,762,802 Strong June 10, 1930 1,844,568Edwards et a1. Feb. 9, 1932 2,084,321 Conadino et al'. June 22, 19372,370,580 Pyne et a1 .Feb. 27, 1945

